Counseling : A Comprehensive Profession

by Gladding, Samuel T.

• ISBN13: 9780130494702
• ISBN10: 0130494704
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

This book encompasses all that counseling is today--addressing the history of counseling and the theory behind its practice; exploring the multicultural, ethical, legal environments in which counselors operate; and, examining the variety of skills today's counselors are expected to exhibit. Up-to-date references to contemporary theorists, trends, and challenges in the field ensures readers learn the current best practices and the most recently-adopted theories--prepares them to practice in today's settings, with the most recent tools and information. Incorporation of multicultural and gender issues throughout the material broadens the scope of the book. Six chapters are dedicated to specific populations with whom counselors work and professional arenas in which they practice. Includes American Counseling Association and NBCC Ethical Guidelines for the practice of internet counseling. Emphasis on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV-TR) categories prepares future counselors for the "nitty-gritty" of diagnosis--addresses the stringent requirements of documentation demanded by third party payers. A key resource for counseling certification.

Table of Contents

Historical and Professional Foundations of Counseling

History of and Trends in Counseling

The Effective Counselor

Ethical and Legal Aspects of Counseling

Counseling in a Multicultural and Pluralistic Society

Counseling Process and Theory

Building a Counseling Relationship

Working in a Counseling Relationship

Termination of Counseling Relationships

Psychoanalytic and Adlerian Approaches to Counseling

Person-Centered, Existential, and Gestalt Approaches to Counseling

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy and Transactional Analysis

Behavioral, Cognitive-Behavioral, and Reality Therapy

Skills and Specialties in the Practice of Counseling

Marriage and Family Counseling: Systems Theory

Groups in Counseling

Career Counseling over the Life Span

Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School Counseling

College Counseling and Student Life Services

Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Rehabilitation Counseling

Consultation

Evaluation and Research

Testing, Assessment, and Diagnosis in Counseling

Ethical Standards of the American Counseling Association

Ethical Standards of the American Psychological Association

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) Classifications

Counseling-Related Organizations

Name Index

Subject Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

Counseling is a dynamic, ever-evolving, and exciting profession that deals with human tragedy and possibility in an intensive, personal, and caring way. It is a profession dedicated to prevention, development, exploration, empowerment, change, and remediation in an increasingly complex and chaotic world. In the past, counseling emphasized guidance by helping people make wise choices. Now guidance is but one part of this multidimensional profession. This text presents counseling in a broad manner covering its history, theories, activities, specialties, and trends. In addition, this book concentrates on the importance of the personhood of counselors and of the multicultural, ethical, and legal environments in which counselors operate. By focusing on the context and process of counseling, this book provides you with a better idea of what counselors do and how they do it. Materials inCounseling. A Comprehensive Profession,Fifth Edition, have been divided into four main sections. Part I, Historical and Professional Foundations of Counseling, contains chapters dealing with an overview of the development of counseling and important competencies of contemporary counselors. Specific chapters that will orient you to the counseling profession as it was and is are History of and Trends in Counseling; Personal and Professional Aspects of Counseling; Ethical and Legal Aspects of Counseling; and Counseling in a Multicultural and Diverse Society. Part II, Counseling Process and Theories, highlights the main processes, stages, and theories of the counseling profession. This section addresses the universal aspects of popular counseling approaches and zeros in on specific theories and ways of dealing with client concerns. The five chapters are Building a Counseling Relationship; Working in a Counseling Relationship; Termination of Counseling Relationships; Psychoanalytic, Adlerian, and Humanistic Theories of Counseling; and Behavioral, Cognitive, Systemic, Brief, and Crisis Theories of Counseling. Part III, Core Counseling Activities in Various Settings, emphasizes universal skills required in almost all counseling environments. Counselors use group counseling, consultation, research, and assessment skills in various areas. The chapters in this section are Groups in Counseling; Consultation; Evaluation and Research; and Testing, Assessment, and Diagnosis in Counseling. Finally, Part IV, Counseling Specialties, contains six chapters that focus on specific populations with whom counselors work or professional practices in which they are engaged that are unique. The chapters here are Career Counseling over the Life Span; Marriage and Family Counseling; Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School Counseling; College Counseling and Student-Life Services; Substance Abuse and Disability Counseling; and Mental Health and Community Counseling. A common theme woven throughout this book is that counseling is both a generic and specialized part of the helping field. Although it is a profession that has come of age, it is also still growing. It is best represented in professional organizations such as the American Counseling Association (ACA) and Division 17 (counseling psychology) of the American Psychological Association (APA). There are also numerous other professional groups--social workers, psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists, marriage and family therapists, and pastoral counselors--that use and practice counseling procedures and theories on a daily basis. In essence, no one profession owns the helping process. This text is the result of a lifetime of effort on my part to understand the counseling profession as it was, as it is, and as it will be. My journey has included a wide variety of experiences